Hello JC! Thank you so
much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today! It’s such a pleasure to chat with you. So tell me...
1)
How did you dream up the dynamics of the
characters?
I actually lean heavily into something the brilliant
Damon Suede has talked about in his workshops on character: each character is
defined by a transitive verb. This gives a solid idea of how they behave in a
given scene, and also a great way to create conflict by forcing opposing verbs
together.
For Shadow of the Past (my contribution to Pets in Space
3), Rafe Penzak Grieves – he’s
mourning the death of his partner-wolf, the end of his military career, and all
manner of changes. I gave him a lot of conflict by pairing him up with the
veterinarian Nafisi, whose defining action is Heals, the last thing Rafe wants to do.
2)
Is the book part of a series? If so, can you
tell us about it?
This is a two-fold yes! The book Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 is the newest book in the Pets
in Space series, collecting luminary authors from across the spectrum of
Science Fiction Romance in a single volume. And my story, Shadow of the Past, is part of my TriSystems: Rangers series, and
explores a side character who I wanted to see get his own shot at a happily
ever after.
3)
Can you give a fun or interesting fact about the
book?
Fun and interesting, both! The Pets in Space series
donates a portion of its proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, an organization dedicated
to improving the quality of life for veterans and first responders by raising,
training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of
charge, and providing lifetime support of those partnerships.
4)
What do you think is your strongest asset as a
writer? What is your weakest factor?
Eep! Rough question. I’d say my dialogue skills are
probably my strongest. I’ve worked hard on creating natural dialogue that
defines each character. I’ve also been putting a lot of effort into planning
out longer series – something I’ve been bad at in the past. TriSystems: Rangers
actually represents not just a series in its own right, but also a setting in
which I have several other books planned, allowing me to visit the characters
and places from different viewpoints.
5)
Do you try to be more original, or deliver to
readers what they want?
It’s a tightrope. I couldn’t write Science Fiction
Romance if I didn’t absolutely love it, but it’s a broad category with a lot of
tropes and sub-categories underneath. As a result, I write what I want to read
(and what my science background allows me to suspend disbelief for), and trust
that there are other folks who will like what I like.
6) Do you plan all of your characters out before
you start a story, or do they develop as you write?
I plan out the main characters in advance, often several
books in advance since I have to
introduce them and how they relate to the
other characters in the book. It gives me a good starting place when I sit down
to write their stories; if I know their transitive verb (how I define their
personality) then I can write them consistently from the first introduction all
the way through to their own happily ever after.
7)
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or
are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My goal is to have each book be its own story, with a
main story following the protagonists to happily ever after. That said, each of
the stories does build on the events that happened prior, and help to create a
living, breathing setting for the books to be taken together.
8)
What are your upcoming projects?
I’ve got two more TriSystems: Rangers books (Chen and
May, finishing out Fireteam Bravo) in the works right now. After that, I’ve got
a sports series in the same setting, following a Formula 1-style racing team
across the Three Systems, and through the course of their first season.
SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
Loss casts a shadow you can’t
outrun…
Commander Rafe Penzak is tired of
jockeying a desk. With only months left before his forced retirement from the
rangers, he decides to bend a few rules for one last mission: follow up on
intelligence that vicious criminals have found the ranch that supplies the
rangers’ umbra wolves. He’s ready to confront the reminder of his wolf’s death,
but nothing in the Three Systems could prepare him for the spitfire who runs
the farm.
Veterinarian Nafisi Sultana has
run her wolf breeding program her way since the death of her husband. The last
thing she wants is another ranger taking up space, correcting her methods, or
being underfoot. But she can’t miss the pain and sorrow that haunts the greying
commander, and her need to heal others pulls her into his orbit despite the
agonizing memories he wakes in her.
With storms, raiders, and a
renegade wolf pup driving them together, Nafisi and Rafe have to set aside
their damaged past, or they’ll never be able to save something they both want
more—a future.
Anthology Blurb:
Pets in Space™ is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space™ authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space™ 3 today!
Anthology Loglines:
The pets are back in this new, exciting collection of eleven original stories from today’s hottest Science Fiction Romance authors! Feel the action and passion!
Pets in Space™ is back with 11 original, never-before-released stories from today’s top selling Science Fiction Romance authors! Pick up your limited release copy of Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space™ 3 and help support Hero-Dogs.org!
Eleven original Science Fiction Romances. Eleven action-filled tales that mix Pets in Space™ with their two-legged companions. Supporting a great cause – Hero-Dogs.org. Don’t miss out on Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space™ 3!
Newsletter Signup: http://www.petsinspaceantho.com/stay-in-touch/ or https://www.petsinspaceantho.com
Everyone who subscribes to our newsletter will receive an exclusive, original and FREE Pets in Space™ 3 Coloring Book. This coloring book is only available with our newsletter.
BUY LINKS
Amazon
https://amzn.to/2LvfDvY
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FNXKQJZ
Amazon CA
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FNXKQJZ/
Amazon AU
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FNXKQJZ/
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/S_E_Smith_Embrace_the_Passion_Pets_in_Space_3?id=JghkDwAAQBAJ
Pets in Space™ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetsInSpace/
FB Handle: @AuthorJCHay
Twitter Handle: @j_c_hay
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/J.C.-Hay/e/B003N9TL0A/
No comments:
Post a Comment